Monarch butterflies overwinter in many locations. Is San Diego one of them?

Stop 1: Grape Street Park, Balboa Park S.D.

On Thursday November 13th I set out for San Diego in search of overwintering monarch butterflies. The information leading me on this expedition was scarce. The information at monarchprogram.org seems current and credible. So it was enough to get me thinking I would see monarchs. The first overwintering site that I visited is th﻿e Eucalyptus trees at the upper boarder of Balboa Park in San Diego. The location is adjacent to the Grape St. Dog Park.﻿

The Grape St location didn't have the monarchs that I expected. I knew it wasn't a large site in terms of many thousand monarchs. I just expected to see more than four. The total numbers I observed was four monarchs.

Stop 2: Presidio Park, Old Town S.D.

High in the hill above Old Town S.D. is Presidio Park. It is also the second site that I went to in search of overwintering monarch butterflies. I will preface this story with the fact that despite seeing no monarchs, this is a beautiful park and worth visiting.

The temperature here during my visit on November 13th was a solid 70º. With warm temps like this the monarchs likely think its still early fall. They are out finding nectar on the many blooming flowers around S.D. As the daily high becomes cooler the monarchs will find the protected places like Presidio Park and Grape Street Park to rest in until the warm spring air returns. Further to the north in Santa Cruz and Pacific Grove the temps are a little cooler and the monarch numbers are higher.

Where will I go next? Pacific Grove and Natural Bridges S.B.

On Nov, 8th I was sent a photo of monarchs clustering at Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz.

On November 20th 2014 My wife and I will get a first hand look at these monarchs. We are visiting both major overwintering sites for monarch butterflies. Natural Bridges State Beach and Pacific Grove. Did you know Pacific Grove has adopted the nickname "Butterfly Town U.S.A." I thinks thats pretty cool.